Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have decisively repelled a multi-pronged attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer,
Headquarters Joint Task Force, Capt. Mohammed Goni, the attack occurred at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, when the terrorists launched a simultaneous assault on the military base from two different directions.
The military said that troops detected the advancing terrorists through early warning and surveillance systems and immediately deployed a combat team to intercept the attackers along one of their axes of advance.
It was gathered that a fierce exchange of fire followed, during which the troops successfully overwhelmed the terrorists and halted their advance.
The second group of insurgents reportedly attempted to bypass the troops and infiltrate the military base.
However, they were met with superior firepower and equally repelled.
The coordinated response forced the attackers to withdraw in confusion, prompting the troops to launch a hot pursuit and conduct extensive exploitation of the contact area and the terrorists’ withdrawal routes.
During the operation, several terrorists were reportedly neutralised, while troops recovered a substantial quantity of military equipment.
The recovered items included AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, rocket-propelled grenade bombs and chargers, as well as a camcorder and other combat-related equipment.
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The military also said surveillance footage obtained during the operation showed the terrorists dragging the bodies of some of their dead colleagues towards the Timbuktu Triangle following the failed assault.
According to Operation HADIN KAI, there were no casualties among the Nigerian troops during the engagement.
The successful defence of FOB Mandaragirau represents another setback for ISWAP elements operating in the North-East and underscores the growing emphasis on early warning, rapid response and coordinated firepower in counter-insurgency operations.
The Theatre Command commended the troops of 162 Amphibious Battalion for their courage, professionalism and tactical effectiveness in repelling the attack.
It said the outcome demonstrated the high level of operational readiness and aggressive posture of troops under Operation HADIN KAI, particularly amid intensified efforts to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement and prevent them from attacking military positions and vulnerable communities.
The military reaffirmed its determination to sustain offensive operations against terrorist elements across the North-East, dominate the battlespace and restore lasting peace and security in the region.
